NCMA adds more sunflowers at Museum Park

The North Carolina Museum of Art announced Tuesday that its 2.5-acre flower field, which was first planted in 2018, will be open again this year. The field, located at the intersection of the Blue Loop and Meadow trails, includes sunflowers, cosmos, and zinnias.

New this year, NCMA has planted more sunflowers in a field near the Ellipse lawn at the Museum Park.

The museum will be hosting a two-part outdoor nature photography in the sunflower field on July 20 and 27.

The five-acre Sunflower Field is expected to bloom in early to mid-July. Admission is free. The field is located off of Hunt Drive near the soccer fields and the historic cemetery.

The field has been a popular attraction in years past, attracting thousands of people and becoming a hot spot for Instagram photos and other photo shoots.

Once sunflowers begin to bloom, the field will be open to the public seven days a week from dawn until dusk.

When the bloom is over, Raleigh Water will harvest the sunflowers and use them to process biodiesel for educational programs and demonstrations.

The Museum Park is connected to Dix Park via the Rocky Branch and Reedy Creek greenway trails. For those wishing to bike between locations, Citrix Cycle bike rental stations are located at both locations. 

The farm is known for its fall pumpkin patch and holiday lights decorations. Last year, the venue introduced a sunflower field.